South East breaking News
The Vice Chancellor Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has enjoined Christians all over the world to continually ask God Almighty to give rain to mankind to ensure human comfort on the earth, revealing that just as rain refreshes the earth,biblical passages use rain imagery to show spiritual purging and second chances.
According to him,severe drought or the absence of rain in the Bible vividly illustrates the consequences of divine favour or displeasure.
” Rain could come as a blessing or as a judgement and withdrawal of rain in the land of Isreal is a manifestation of the Lord’s judgment against His people. It is even the same across the world” he said
The sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara university of Agriculture ,who was the guest speaker at the 2025 annual thanksgiving church service held on the 6th of July,2025 at Goodnews Baptist church Afaraukwu Umuahia with the theme,’Let there be rain’ said the Lord is the giver of rain,be it the normal or the spiritual rain,adding that He gives the normal rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous,to the haves and the have nots ,to the rich and the poor.
Prof. Iwe who cited Bible verses reading from 1Kings18:1 and 1 Kings 17:1,pointed out that,”Rain blesses the land for renewal,for support of growth and for fruition. We should continually ask the Lord to give us rain to ensure our comfort on the land.
” This therefore, should drive us to singing, praising and thanking to God.Oh sing to the Lord a new song. For He has done marvelous things.His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him victory” he said
He maintained that ,” Rain symbolizes God’s power to cleanse sin, guilt and moral decay, inviting repentance and renewal,assuring believers that transformation is possible through divine intervention.
Earlier,the Pastor in charge of Goodnews Baptist Church, Rev.Professor Shola Omodamiro explained that the program was borne out of the desire to change the situation of Nigerians who are passing through difficulties.
According to him, “the passage that we focus in is 1Kings18 verse 1.The Lord told Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab: that “I will send rain.
” Before then,there was severe drought in the land for three years and six months. There were difficulties in the land”
Professor Shola noted that Nigerians presently are going through what the Israelites passed through then,hence the need to cry to God for rain.
He revealed that the situation then was as a result of the sins of the leaders because it was Ahab that committed sin and God said enough is enough when His people cried.
” I believe that God has heard the cry of His people in Nigeria because of the sins of our leaders and says enough is enough.
” I feel very sure that Nigerians have suffered enough and people are praying both in mosques and churches.
” God is very merciful and promised to send rain,if we can cry to Him.
” We are talking about rain of revival, richness, blessings prosperities, promotions among others and for the past seven days,the Baptist church members have been crying to God to send rain”
Continuing, Pastor Shola said the program started since Monday and the climax with Sunday thanksgiving service,added that he looking forward for the people to enjoy abundance of blessing,adding that the event is an annual program which he described as a huge success.
Speaking on how he combines pastoral work with his academic work, he simply said ” It is as a result of God’s mercy and hardwork”
